Leaders differ over extension of dawn-to-dusk Lamu curfew

A section of Lamu Town. Just like the Swahili ‘biriani’ ingredients, the Coast offers many faces of blue waters of the Indian Ocean that extend 536 kilometres. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Deputy Governor Eric Mugo, Lamu West MP Julius Ndegwa and Hongwe Ward MCA James Komu want the curfew lifted.
  • Mr Mugo asked the government to lift the curfew since police officers on night patrols “have turned it into an extortion venture”.
  • Other leaders supported the curfew with nominated MCA Joseph Githuku telling leaders to stop politicising the issue.
  • Bahari Ward Rep Njomo Maina said the curfew should remain in place even though it had affected the area economy.

Leaders from Lamu have differed over the extension of the dawn-to-dusk curfew in Mpeketoni and surrounding areas.

Deputy Governor Eric Mugo, Lamu West MP Julius Ndegwa and Hongwe Ward MCA James Komu want the curfew lifted.

Speaking in Mpeketoni on Saturday, Mr Mugo asked the government to lift the curfew since police officers on night patrols “have turned it into an extortion venture”.

He said leaders would not sit and watch residents suffer.

“Police officers arrest people and demand between Sh500 and Sh1,000 to release them,” Mr Mugo said, adding that the curfew was unconstitutional.

NO DIRECTIONS FROM NKAISSERY

Mr Komu accused Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery of not giving directions on the curfew.

He said it was supposed to end on February 26 but Mr Nkaissery has been silent on the matter.

“Consequently, residents don’t know if the curfew is still in place,” he said.

However, other leaders supported the curfew with nominated MCA Joseph Githuku telling leaders to stop politicising the issue.

He said national security was a sensitive matter and that there was need for leaders to let the government do its work.

Bahari Ward Rep Njomo Maina said the curfew should remain in place even though it had affected the area economy.

Mrs Petronila Kariuki, a resident said she had no problem with the curfew.

“Since the curfew was introduced, we have not experienced anything major in terms of security. We ask the government to extend the curfew,” said Mrs Kariuki.

In his last statement at a Mombasa hotel on February 5, Mr Nkaissery said the curfew was still on in the area surrounding Mpeketoni since the government was still in consultations with the Coast security committee and leaders from the region.

“We are looking into lifting the curfew in Mpeketoni area but this will be based on the report from the Coast security committee and the local leaders,” Nkaissery said.